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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David McDonough
Phone: 703-243-9262

HIGPA's 2001 International EXPO To Be Held October 15-17;
Bayer Corp. and GlaxoSmithKline Among the Event's Leading Sponsors

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 24, 2001) - Health care executives will be able to convene and discuss critical issues facing the health care supply chain industry at the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association's (HIGPA) 6th Annual International EXPO from October 15-17, 2001 at the Marriott's Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, California.

EXPO 2001 will include educational topics featuring an impressive list of speakers. Attendees will have the opportunity to: learn about the future structure of health care during a discussion led by Joe Flower; listen to Barry Wishner, president of Proformance and learn how industry leaders are executing change; get an update on federal legislative and regulatory issues from HIGPA's President and CEO; learn from leading medical professionals about physician preferences for certain innovative products; listen to top CEOs and COOs from leading supply chain facilities discuss the status of the health care delivery system and forecast future purchasing trends; and become enlightened by former U.S. Representative John Kasich (R-OH), on how contemporary politics and financial markets will influence the upcoming 2002 fiscal budget debate and more.

"HIGPA is pleased to be hosting the 2001 EXPO," said HIGPA President & CEO Robert Betz, Ph.D. "Working on the success of the past EXPOs, I expect the 2001 International EXPO will provide the most comprehensive educational sessions and the best networking and business-building opportunities to date for the health care supply chain industry."

In addition to the three-day event led by health care supply chain and purchasing experts, the conference offers representatives from manufacturers, distributors and other vendors a unique environment to interact with group purchasing organization (GPO) executives at EXPO's renowned GPO Pavilions. Individuals from all product areas-pharmacy, medical/surgical, dietary, capital equipment, laboratory, alternate care-will be in attendance and ready to meet all trading partner members who attend.

To learn more about attending EXPO, please visit HIGPA's web site at www.higpa.org, where you can download the brochure, learn more details about the event, and register online. Members of the news media interested in attending EXPO, should contact David McDonough, HIGPA's Director of Communications at 703-243-9262 or chickey@higpa.org for more information.

HIGPA is also pleased to announce that leading the long list of sponsors for the 2001 EXPO are Silver Sponsors GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer Corporation. For more information on becoming an EXPO sponsor, please contact Russell Werlinich, HIGPA's Director of Education and Program Management at 703-243-9262.

GlaxoSmithKline, EXPO Silver Sponsor. GlaxoSmithKline-one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies-is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information, visit GlaxoSmithKline on the Internet at www.gsk.com.

Bayer Corporation, EXPO Silver Sponsor. Bayer Corporation is a research-based company with major business in health care and life sciences, and chemicals. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bayer Corp. operates 50 manufacturing operations and 50 sales offices nationwide and employs approximately 22,000 people in the United States. For more information, visit Bayer Corporation on the Internet at www.bayerus.com.

HIGPA's trading partner members include many of the world's leading health care product and medical supply manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and related suppliers. HIGPA's industry members include for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, purchasing groups, associations, multi-hospital systems, and health care provider alliances. According to a recent study conducted by a former principal analyst at the Congressional Budget Office, hospitals saved patients up to $19 billion in 1999 by purchasing products through group contracts.

HIGPA is a chartered trade association of approximately 180 health care purchasing and supply chain organizations that serve approximately three out of every four U.S. acute care hospitals, as well as most of the long term care, home care and medical group practice markets. To learn more about HIGPA, visit our web site: www.higpa.org or call 703-243-9262.

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